Wath Festival is keen to nurture young performers and support those who may be the next household names in folk, roots and acoustic music.

In 2011, the festival teamed up with local musician, Charlie Barker and her company The Partnership Media to start a search for young performers aged between 16 - 24 for the Wath Young Performers Award to win the trophy, open up for the main headlining act and take away a cash prize.

After months of searching and listening to submissions three acts are chosen as finalists to perform in front of a panel of industry professionals on the festival weekend, who then select the finalist. Previous judges have included award-winning musicians John McCusker, Kris Drever and Lucy Ward, record label director and agent Tom Sweeney and local radio broadcaster Dave Eyre. Each performer takes away a cash prize, as well as prizes donated from sponsors.

Previous winners include duo Luke Hirst & Sarah Smout in 2011 and Sunjay Brayne for the festival's 40th anniversary in 2012.

Are you a young performer aged 16 – 24 who plays folk, roots or acoustic music?

Would you like the chance to perform on the main stage of South Yorkshire’s biggest festival of music and performing arts?

Wath Festival is offering the chance for one act to perform at our evening concert on Sunday 5th May, before the main headline artists.

The festival has teamed up with The Partnership Media, local promoters of live music, to organise the Wath Festival Young Performers Award 2013.

We are searching for 3 acts to perform in front of our panel of expert judges, only one of which will take 1^st prize of the main stage performance, the trophy, a cash prize, a photoshoot with Charlie Barker Photography and a booking at the 2013 festival.

Applications are open to soloists, duos and trios playing traditional and contemporary folk, roots and acoustic music.

Applicants should send 2 tracks in either mp3 format or a links to YouTube videos with their CONTACT DETAILS and a SHORT BIOGRAPHY to info@thepartnershipmedia.co.uk before the closing date of Friday 19^th April 2013.

Sunjay Brayne, 2012 winner with festival patron John Tams.

Luke Hirst & Sarah Smout, 2011 winners with judge John McCusker.